Is It Miller Time For Anheuser Busch Inbev SA?

Anheuser Busch Inbev SA

shares were sharply higher on a rumor it was in talks with banks to line up financing for a prospective bid on SABMiller plc

. The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that a deal could be worth as much as $122 billion, but that Anheuser is not presently in talks with SAB, the world's second-largest brewer and maker of Miller beer, Foster's and Pilsner Urquelle. Anheuser traded recently up more than 3 percent; SAB on the London stock exchange was up nearly 10 percent. Altria Group Inc.

, which holds a 28 percent stake in SAB, was up nearly 3 percent. But CNBC television contradicted the Journal report, saying Anheuser is not in talks with banks on a financing a potential deal, nor in talks with SAB. CNBC didn't cite a source for its report. https://twitter.com/davidfaber In what some saw as a move to remain independent SABMiller has tried to acquire the privately held Dutch brewing giant Heineken Holding N.V. But its offer was rejected Sunday. Besides the SAB stake held by Altria, a sizable chunk of shares are controlled by the government of South Africa and a private family there.